Rick Pitino gets profane in comments about moral victories

Mar 21, 2023; New York, NY, USA; New St. John s head coach Rick Pitino speaks at his introductory press conference at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Rick Pitino’s St. John’s Red Storm team put together a valiant performance Saturday in a 66-65 road loss to Creighton. It meant the Red Storm came one basket away from toppling a top 25 team on the road, but if you think Pitino is taking it as a moral victory, you would be very wrong.

Asked after the game if the performance left him feeling good despite the loss, Pitino railed against the notion. A loss is a loss, and he hates it no matter what.

Rick Pitino, asked if, all things considered, he feels good about today: "When we lose, I hate the f—ing world.

"I don't believe in those valiant efforts on the road. I feel like I want to kill myself, jumping into the cold and die of frostbite."

— Jon Walker (@ByJonWalker) January 13, 2024

“When we lose, I hate the f—ing world,” Pitino said. “I don’t believe in those valiant efforts on the road. I feel like I want to kill myself, jumping into the cold and die of frostbite.”

It’s safe to say Pitino’s competitive fire has not dimmed at all, even at the age of 71.

The Red Storm had won four in a row and six of seven coming into Saturday’s game, with the only defeat being a competitive road loss to defending national champion UConn. Pitino clearly has them on the right track, just as he promised when he took the job before this season. That said, he clearly will not be happy until they start winning these games.